Osmium tetroxide (as Os)

IDLH Documentation
CAS number: 20816­12­0

NIOSH REL: 0.002 mg/m3 (0.0002 ppm) TWA,

0.006 mg/m3 (0.0006 ppm) STEL

Current OSHA PEL: 0.002 mg/m3 TWA

1989 OSHA PEL: 0.002 mg/m3 (0.0002 ppm) TWA,

0.006 mg/m3 (0.0006 ppm) STEL

1993-1994 ACGIH TLV: 0.0016 mg/m3 (0.0002 ppm) TWA,

0.0047 mg/m3 (0.0006 ppm) STEL

Description of substance: Colorless, crystalline solid or pale­yellow mass with an unpleasant, acrid, chlorine­like odor.

LEL: . . Noncombustible Solid

Original (SCP) IDLH: 1 mg Os/m3

Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by AIHA [197] that 1 mg/m3 has been suggested as tolerable for 30 minutes [Flury and Zernik 1931]. No other data on acute inhalation toxicity are available which would be useful in determining the IDLH. AIHA [1968] reported that McLaughlin et al. [1946] found that workers exposed to 0.1 to 0.6 mg/m3 suffered from lacrimation and disturbances of vision and in some cases, headache, conjunctivitis, and cough.

Short-term exposure guidelines: None developed

ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:

Lethal concentration data:

Species
Reference
LC50
LCLo
Time
Adjusted 0.5-hr

LC (CF)
Derived value
RabbitBrunot 1933
-----
1,316 mg/m3
30 min
987 mg Os/m3 (1.0)
99 mg Os/m3
RatShell 1961
-----
423 mg/m3
4 hr
317 mg Os/m3 (2.0)
32 mg Os/m3
MouseShell 1961
-----
423 mg/m3
4 hr
317 mg Os/m3 (2.0)
32 mg Os/m3

Human data: It has been suggested that 1 mg/m3 is tolerable for 30 minutes [Flury and Zernik 1931]. Workers exposed to 0.1 to 0.6 mg/m3 suffered from lacrimation and disturbances of vision and in some cases, headache, conjunctivitis, and cough [McLaughlin et al. 1946].

Revised IDLH: 1 mg Os/m3 [Unchanged]

Basis for revised IDLH: Based on acute inhalation toxicity data in humans [Flury and Zernik 1931; McLaughlin et al. 1946], the original IDLH for osmium tetroxide (1 mg Os/m3) is not being revised at this time.

REFERENCES:

1. AIHA [1968]. Osmium and its compounds. In: Hygienic guide series. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 29:621­623.

2. Brunot FR [1933]. The toxicity of osmium tetroxide (osmic acid). J Ind Hyg 15:136­143.

3. Flury F, Zernik F [1931]. Schädliche gase dämpfe, nebel, rauch­ und staubarten. Berlin, Germany: Verlag von Julius Springer, p. 254 (in German).

4. McLaughlin AIG, Milton R, Perry KMA [1946]. Toxic manifestations of osmium tetroxide. Br J Ind Med 3:183­186.

5. Shell [1961]. Unpublished report. San Ramon, CA: Shell Chemical Co., p. 8. Go back to the Documentation for Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs)